Job Discussion Forums

[jum]

hi everyone,
I'm new to all this and still is researching to find out my best options. Could anyone tell me on average, how much you can save working in Japan as an english teacher? (after ecpenses including rent, food, transport, and socialise everynow and then. Bearing in mind that one of my goals is to save money and experience Japan as well.
please.... i'd really appreciate your comments.

Jum ^@^

[Glenski]

Basic salary is 250,000 yen/month.

Typical rent (which varies considerably on your location) may be 70,000 yen/month.

Utilities run 15,000 yen/month (also variable on location and season).

Groceries 30,000 yen/month.

Insurance 2500 yen/month (national health insurance plan, 1st year only)

Transportation (for full-time work, employers usually pay this)

So, with these expenses, you have 132,500 yen to spend on a multitude of things per month:

"socializing"
postage
snacks, cigarettes, or other vices
dry cleaning
haircuts, perms, hair dyes
prescription medication
cable TV service
rental videos/movies
telephone (4000-8000 yen/month + long distance & local calls)
Internet (if separate from phone bill)
souvenirs
traveling/sightseeing
replacement clothing
EMERGENCIES
credit card bills & student loans back home
dating!!!

Of these things, the biggest chunks are usually sightseeing and socializing. Figure that if you go out for 4-5 beers a night (plus some munchies) maybe a couple nights a week, you'll spend 30,000 - 50,000 yen/month. (You have to take into account things like charm charges to get into certain bars, taxi fare when you miss that last train home at midnight, and other sundry costs.)

So, with this much for socializing, you have 82,500 - 102,500 yen per month to spend on the other items above. Subtract phone bill (average 7000 yen), and you have 75,500 - 95,500 yen/month for the other items.

Sightseeing is also an extremely variable expense. Hotels run an average of 4000-10,000 yen per night, but if you have higher class tastes for ryokans, be prepared to pay 10,000-30,000 yen, especially if it's near (or part of) an onsen. Travel costs could be as low as 4000-5000 yen for a train ride for the weekend, or as high as several 10,000's of yen for airfare within Japan. Add to that the cost of souvenirs, photos, restaurants, and event admission fees (like museums), and you could spend quite a bit. Not everyone entertains the idea of hostels and hitchhiking.

This is why I say you will probably be able to "save" about US$500 per month, unless you have bills back home to pay, or are extremely cheap in your lifestyle.

For people who plan to rebut these figures with claims of 100-yen shops and all you can eat/drink places and 300-yen ramen lunches, I don't dispute that these all help to lower expenses. However, newbies don't often latch onto these things easily in the first few months of living here, and nobody likes eating those cheapo ramen meals every day. Most people who can't save money here usually blow it on nightly entertainment and sightseeing anyway.

I do advocate cooking for yourself and packing lunches, as well as using specialized Internet services like ADSL to keep your Internet costs down (to about 5000 yen/month when combined with your basic phone charge). Most eikaiwas give the same holidays off, so you will travel when the other teachers ( and most of Japan) does. During Golden Week, Obon, and New Year, that means skyrocketing prices 2-3 times normal rates, so I also recommend looking carefully if you plan to travel at those times. Rental video stores have their discount days like back home, and supermarkets have their sales, so it's wise to get used to the days when these are offered (but it may take some time). I also am in favor of getting a bicycle to tour your neighborhood if nothing else. Pedal power is free and healthy.

[Shonai Ben]

The first year that I worked in Japan I managed to save close to 1 million yen which would roughly be about 10,000 US.I went out every weekend and did a lot of sightseeing,so it is possible to save money here.It really depends on your lifestyle.I found that I was so busy with work that I didn't have time to spend any money except on the weekends.If you don't go crazy and party all the time you should be able to save money.

[kimbo]

do you live in a city or rural area? I was just wandering how much it would differ from different locations. Cheers

[jum]

thanks heaps for your replies.....
Say what if you were with the Jet program Vs other companies such as Aeon or Geos (or other private english schools)?
I don't drink or smoke. You can also bare in mind that i am able to save and keep all my expenses limited (that means cooking for myself rather than eating out, watching videos with friends rather than going to the movies. But i will be expecting to do some sightseeing and cultural activities when i get the chance.

[Glenski]

[Sunpower]

I was able to save anywhere from Y100,000 to Y200,000 regularly per month.

$20,000 Canadian or a little more per year is a realistic target if you're working in Tokyo for many people.

Again, savings will depend on how often/much you work/drink/eat out/travel, etc, etc.

But Y100,000 per month in savings is not difficult in Tokyo.
Not at all.

Lots of teachers in Tokyo are happy with their Y350,000 per month but that is good, average salary and many are teaching and making more than the JET Y300,000 per month before taxes.

[Glenski]

Sunpower,

I have not worked in Tokyo, but most eikaiwas tout a starting salary much less than 350,000 yen/month. I realize that some places offer more in the Tokyo area, but your figures seem a bit high for an "average" salary.

[Sunpower]

With a base income from a part time conversation school gig like Berlitz or Nova and several part time corporate and High School or private opporunities, I'd say Y400,000 a month would not be an unrealistic income for an EFL'er in Tokyo.

Compare that to the guy I talked to about a week ago who is
clocking in 8 hour days doing nothing for Y220,000 per mont on JET.

If you want to earn money for whatever reason, there is only one place to go - Tokyo.

[Glenski]

Sunpower,

[Celeste]

For my JET take home pay, I recieve 249 000 per month after all deductions, including my rent. Some JET accomodations cost more per month than others. My JET apartment is a 2DK (basically what we'd call a one bedroom apartment back in Canada) and it costs me 11 000 yen per month and is deducted directly from my paycheque. Other deductions include health insurance, employment insurance and pension. JET tops up the 300 000 so that I don't pay income tax on that amount.

[Sunpower]

[Celeste]

I partially disagree with you, Sunpower. Here in F ukuoka City, I don't know anyone who is earning nearly as much as the JET ALTs. Conversation schools just aren't paying that much here. I know former JET employees who are now working for eikaiwas who speak fondly of their time with JET as being the time when they had shorter hours and more money.

When I first got here, it took me about 3 months to line up my first private lesson, and since that time, I have put together a lot of privates. One other good thing about the JET job is that it leaves you free in the evenings, a time when many adult students would like private lessons.

I know a couple of guys with junior college jobs who earn a fair bit more than the JET ALTs do, but they should- they have taken the time to get advanced degrees and they have been teaching for a long time.

Tokyo is very different in a lot of ways, I guess. I wonder how the inaka communities measure up?

[Sunpower]

[David W]